John,
Team Winter strives to treat you, our community of supporters, with respect and transparency. With that in mind, the Kremlin’s illegal invasion of Ukraine — and our opponent’s unprecedented and longstanding support for the dictator responsible — makes this email different from the ones we usually send.
We write to you today with heavy hearts, in the spirit of sensitivity to the ongoing crisis and deep concern for what comes next.
The Kremlin’s invasion of Ukraine is a blatant violation of international law that shocks every American dedicated to free people and to democracy.
Vladimir Putin’s authoritarian regime is violently attacking the democratically elected government of Ukraine, breaking all international laws, norms, and values. Disturbingly, our opponent, Ryan Zinke, has a long documented history of expressing open admiration for this totalitarian dictator.
We got into this race to fight for the dignity of Montanans, to bring health care to rural America, to fight climate change. Never in a million years did we think we would be fighting an opponent who sides with violent dictators. But there was Zinke this week at Mar-a-Lago with Trump as the Kremlin bombed Ukrainian cities.
Zinke also used his stature as a United States Representative to tell the world that Putin was a better leader than Barack Obama — and part of the evidence Zinke cited to support him was Putin’s success “spreading Russian influence in Ukraine.”
Later, as a member of the Trump administration, Zinke never spoke out against the former president’s attempt to extort the Ukrainian government into damaging his domestic political opponent — not even when the extortion attempt got the president impeached.
His silence was not an accident. And despite what Trump says, Putin is no “genius”. He is a war criminal, a bigot, and a tyrant — qualities no American should admire.
It’s incredible that this even has to be said in the world’s oldest democracy, but you cannot campaign in a democratic election and support the authoritarian in the war. And without the open, vocal support of American elected officials such as Ryan Zinke, Donald Trump, and others, Putin would not feel so emboldened as he does now.
Like many of you, watching this crisis from afar, we are eager for some way to help support the people of Ukraine in this dark hour.
We will personally be giving to the United Nations’ Ukraine Humanitarian Fund, which distributes donations to on-the-ground partner organizations for direct humanitarian relief. You can join us by clicking here.
Thank you for being a part of our community of supporters fighting for the dignity of our Montana community. There is no dignity in supporting a violent, bigoted Russian demagogue over the free people of Ukraine.
It’s up to all of us to ensure the United States continues to stand for democracy and humanity. We will be standing against Zinke and his terrible judgment on behalf of our home here in Montana, while supporting the people of Ukraine however we can.
In solidarity,
Team Winter
PAID FOR BY WINTER FOR MONTANA
Winter for Montana
PO Box 1592
Polson, MT
59860
